Full strength Starlets fancy their chances against more experienced opponents
Harambee Starlets coach David Ouma is bubbling with confidence ahead of the team’s opening contest of the women’s Africa Cup of Nations against Ghana on Sunday.
Kenya and Ghana are in Group B of the-eight team competition in Cameroon, and will play each other at the Stade Municipal de Limbe in their opening game on Sunday.
The tournament’s defending champions Nigeria and Mali are the other team’s in the group, whose top two finishers will proceed to the semi-finals.
“I have been regulating training to ensure the players have enough energy for the first game which will be played under floodlights. I am really motivated to be in this position to lead our national team for the first time in this competition,” Ouma said.
“The mood of the team is sufficient to throw in the best foot forward and compete towards successful possibilities bearing in mind there is a reward as to showcase our talents,” he added.
COMPETITIVE GAME
The Dutch trained coach also said there are no injury concerns in his squad ahead of the match.
Thika Queens midfielder Mary Kinuthia, her club mate Christine Nafula and Spedag FC defender Ann Alouch are all set to feature prominently in the match.
At the same time the Ghanaian coach Yusuf Basigi said he expects Kenya to hand his charges a “competitive” game.
“I don’t know much about Kenya as I have never watched them play. I have however followed their previous results against Algeria, Cameroon and the Cecafa tournament and they are a lot you cannot underestimate,” Basigi told Nairobi News on phone.
Ghana have more experience compared to Kenya, having competed in the World Cup on three occasions.
The West Africans have also played at the Nations Cup 11 times, and boast of several professional players in the squad namely Florence Dadson (Dayton Dutch Lions, USA), Elizabeth Addo and (Kvansvenisk, Sweden).
